A 33-year-old has narrowly avoided jail after drink-driving through the centre of Grantham, just nine days after being disqualified.

Carl Moore, of Ivatt Court, Grantham, admitted driving without reasonable consideration to other users, while above the alcohol limit and disqualified, on January 29.

The court heard from prosecutor Marie Stace that it happened after Moore accompanied his girlfriend to work, and decided to take the car back at around 10.40pm.

Officers spotted the Ford Ka driving too fast for the weather conditions up Castlegate, before it turned on to Avenue Road and St Peter’s Hill, where it ran a red light.

While trying to reverse out of a one-way street, Moore mounted the pavement and was caught by police. At the station he gave a reading of 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. Furthermore, Moore had been disqualified from driving on January 20, just nine days before.

Stuart Wild, defending, acknowledged his client’s recent conviction and that he had an “unenviable record”, explaining that this was linked to his past drug use and mental health problems.

He said Moore was making progress, having been referred for mental health support, and has produced regular negative drug tests when he has attended Addaction. He has also found employment.

Mr Wild explained that in place of heroin, Moore had been drinking alcohol.

Addressing Moore, having also been in the chair during his previous conviction, magistrate Ian McDonnell, said: “I am fuming with you. You have let the court down, and let yourself down.

“You are not going to prison, because I believe you have turned a corner. I remember when you came into court and looked about 10 years older because of the heroin.”

Moore received a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. He is also disqualified from driving for three years, after which his provisional licence will be endorsed, and must pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.